Marcus looked up as Patricia showed Amanda in. "Marcus, How wonderful to see you!" she said running to hug him. Marcus returned the hug. He and Amanda had been lovers until she decided to marry that old dried up Count. "Amanda How is marriage treating you?" he asked. Amanda made a face. "I was forced to marry that dried up old buzzard Marcus. It's terrible." She said. Marcus laughed. "Amanda nobody has ever forced you to do anything. You married him because you wanted his title and money." Marcus said. "Marcus how can you be so unkind, you know I love you." She said batting her eyes. She was a beautiful woman Marcus thought. She looked so perfect not a hair out of place. Amanda reached up and kissed him. Marcus didn't resist. He pulled her to him and deepened the kiss. Marcus felt absolutely nothing. It was like kissing a fish. Amanda pushed him back. "Marcus you messed up my hair, you are being much too rough." She admonished. Lord how had he ever been attracted to her? "Marcus why in the world did you marry that little heathen?" she asked. Marcus frowned. "How do you know my wife?" he asked. "I came to pay a social call and she hit me and called me a vile name which I cant even repeat." She said. "Now why would she do that Amanda?" he asked. "I really don't know, I was most polite to her. She is wild and she looks like a maid. How could you marry such a creature?" Amanda said. "My reasons are none of your business Amanda. You are married and so am I. What was between us is finished." He said. "Oh Marcus you don't mean that. I know you still love me. But really you need to thrash that heathen within a inch of her life." She said. "I will talk to my wife if what you say is true, I will deal with her appropriately." He said. "Now I have had a long day, so if you will please excuse me." He said. "Of course Marcus. I will see you soon." Amanda said. Marcus breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God she was gone. What had he ever seen in her? Her whining voice alone was enough to make him want to choke her. Now to find Devin.
Marcus walked through the woods it would be dark soon. "Devin!" he called. Damn where had she got to. He heard a rustling noise and looked up. Ah yes he had forgot her penchant for climbing trees. There she was perched on a tree limb. "Child come down here it's getting dark." He said. Devin sighed and made her way down the tree. She jumped down and landed in front of him. Marcus pulled a leaf from her hair. "Your forever walking around with twigs and leaves stuck in your hair little one." He said. Devin looked up at him knowing she had made him angry again. But he was smiling. "I'm sorry for my harsh words today Devin. I truly did not mean them." He said. She chanced a small glance at him and looked quickly back down. Marcus took hold of her chin and lifted her gaze to meet his. "You have done an amazing job, while I've been gone." He said. God she was so beautiful. She was worth a thousand of Amanda's. She was feisty and fiery, brash and bold a strong beautiful woman, but also sweet and passionate with a touching innocence that branded his very soul. Suddenly Devin threw her arms around Marcus. "I missed you something fierce M'Lord." She said. She knew that she should not let loose of he feelings like that. He didn't return them. But she couldn't help herself. She clung to him like a trusting child. She realized at that moment that she had fallen in love with this man. Marcus wrapped his big arms around her. "I missed you to child." He said. "Truly?" she asked looking up at him. "Yes truly." He said smiling down at her. "Come I have a hot bath and a meal waiting on you." He said. Devin slipped her hand in his and followed him back through the woods. They were near the stables when Devin stopped. "M'Lord I have to tell you something." She said. "What is it Devin?" he asked. "Countessa Biddeford paid a call right after you left. I… hit her and said some unkind things to her." She said. "I see. Do you have an excuse for this behavior?" he asked. Devin knew no matter what she said he would not see it as an excuse after all why he would take her side against the woman he loved. She couldn't win no matter what. "No I don't have an excuse." She said. Damn he was hoping she had a good reason for what she did. He had been sure Amanda was lying but apparently not. He could not tolerate her attacking people for no reason. "Devin I can not let this pass, that kind of behavior is unacceptable. Let's take care of this unpleasantness now and be done with it." He said. He led her up to the stables. She saw him begin to unbuckle his belt and she knew and was coming. Her first thought was to run, but she knew there was no point. Marcus took her and tucked her under his left arm and raised the belt. Damn he didn't want to do this. "What name did you call her Devin?" he asked. She knew she had better answer she wasn't in a good position. "A…Trollop." She managed to stutter. Marcus felt the laughter rumbling in his chest. He dropped the belt and let Devin go. He stood there laughing. Devin looked at him confused. "By God girl you are something else." He said still chuckling. "Devin tell me what she said to you." He said. "She said I looked like a maid and she didn't know why you would marry someone like me." She said. "That's when you hit her?" he asked. "No, she said her husband was on his deathbed and when he died you were going to have our marriage annulled and marry her." Devin said in a tremulous voice. He looked at her and seen her eyes were shiny with tears. "That's when I hit her and told her to stay away from my husband." She said looking down at her feet. He lifted her chin and seen the tears swimming in her big blue eyes. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier when I asked?" he asked. "I didn't think you would care to hear excuses." She said. "Do you believe what she told you?" he asked. She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. He saw the dejected look on her face and knew that she had. "She would be a proper wife M'Lord the kind of wife you want." She said sadly. "Devin I married you. I plan on staying married to you. Understand?" he said. She looked up at him and nodded. Her heart was singing with happiness. He must like her a little. "Now as for this business." He said. He sat down on a stool. "You rally cant go hitting guests no matter what the provocation." He said. "Come here." He said. Devin walked over to him. He pulled her over his knees and lifted his hand. He smacked her bottom twice, which in truth she hardly felt. Then he sat her up on his lap. She looked at him confused. That was it. He grinned at her. "I hope you've learned your lesson." He said. She giggled. "Yes M'Lord I have." She said smiling up at him. "Good now lets get you in that bath girl, you smell like a horse." He said laughing. He stood up and took her hand and they walked back up toward the house.